Accra, June 2, GNA – All students will start lessons at 0900 hours and close at 1300 hours, break periods will be observed in the classroom when schools re-open on June 15.
Government would provide three sets of reusable face masks to students and staff.
There should be disinfection of all educational institutions both public and private and ensure availability of washing facilities such as Veronica Buckets for hand washing.
There would be no religious service and sporting activities in schools while students attend dining hall in batches.
Giving details of easing of restrictions for the education sector at the Minister’s briefing, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Education Minister, said those protocols were aimed at ensuring social distancing among students to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The Minister said all Day Students in boarding schools would be accepted as boarders whilst Day Schools would have enhanced daily health protocols.
Also, there would be mapping of schools to link them with health facilities for quick response to any medical emergencies.
University and SHS students would use six weeks for academic work and four weeks to write their exit examinations whilst JHS students would spend 11 weeks for academic work and a week to write the Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE).
Final year SHS candidates would write ‘Ghana Specific Exams’, instead of the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE).
The Minister stated that parents or guardians who have children in boarding schools would not be allowed to visit their children during the period.
In his 10th national broadcast on measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 last Sunday, President Akufo-Addo eased restrictions on public gathering and announced the re-opening of schools for the final year students at the basic secondary and tertiary levels.
He said effective Monday June 15, final year students of the universities should report to campus to prepare for academic work.
Final year students at the Senior High Schools (SHS), together with the SHS Two Gold Track students were to report on June 22 whilst the Junior High Schools (JHS) Student Three are supposed to resume on June 29.
All JHS 3 class will comprise a maximum of 30 students, SHS classes 25 and the Universities half the class sizes.
Dr Opoku Prempeh said government would embark on aggressive back-to-school and re-entry campaign and entreated the leadership of schools to ensure hygiene and social distancing protocols are observed by the teachers, non-teaching staff and students.
The Minister advised parents with sick children not to allow them to attend classes and seek treatment for them.
The Minister said all foreign students outside the country would be allowed to return, but would undergo a 14-day quarantine.
GNA